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Wet tracks test endurance riders

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WA Endurance ride
Riders from the WA Endurance Riders Association Sarah Shanahan, Linda Yates and Shirley O’Donoghue cross a flooded creek on their horses during the 80km event in the last ride of the group’s 2021 season at Boat Harbour Camp last month.
Picture: Vince and Judy Evans, Down Under Images

Lisa Clarke, Denmark Bulletin

Thirty-five riders and horses from the WA Endurance Riders Association crossed spectacular countryside in the last ride of the 2021 season at Boat Harbour Camp last month.

They tackled the 20, 40, 60 or 80km tracks to the scenic Boat Harbour beach, along local roads, the Denmark/Nornalup Heritage Trail and around the Kordabup Reserve.

The wet winter provided more water obstacles to negotiate than usual, but sunshine on the day made it all worthwhile.

Endurance is a sport that encourages people of any age and their horses to ride marked trails and set distances across many regions in WA.

The endurance season is from March to November and a ride is generally offered each fortnight somewhere in the State.

Members camp with their horses – dogs are allowed to camp too – and enjoy companionship, good horsemanship and the opportunity to undertake the sport in many scenic places.

Horse welfare is paramount and all horses must be examined and passed by a veterinary team before beginning an event, during the event between distance legs, after 40km on an 80km ride, and at completion.

The veterinary examination includes assessing gait soundness, heart rate, temperature, respiration and metabolic parameters.

Riders are awarded completion if their horse passes the final veterinary examination.

The association’s motto is ‘to complete is to win’ as the goal is to finish the elected distance while taking the best care of horse and of each other.

WA Endurance ride
Twenty kilometre-course riders Sophie Walker, Kate Lembo, Alicia Van Schayk, Monique Walker, Glenda Andrew and Catherine Walker. Picture: Vince and Judy Evans, Down Under Images

Although there are weight divisions for riders, men and women compete on equal footing.

An event takes many months of planning and a team of volunteers to bring together.

The association appreciates everyone who assisted in making the Denmark ride a success and who helped showcase the region to riders from across WA.

Anyone who would like more information can go to the WAERA webpage http://www.waera.asn.au/ and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/243199859091365.

This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 11 November 2021.

Denmark Bulletin 11 November 2021

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